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What is the most polite way to deal with nonromantic kissing? One kiss on the lips transfers 80 billion bacteria. How do I avoid the traditional kiss in order to live long enough to get through the holiday crunch?

–AJ, Boston

Be enterprising and offer your cheek. You’ll be dodging lips. It leaves the greeter with the choice of “soft kissing” as they touch their cheek to yours (without lips touching skin), or they simply post a kiss on your cheek.

The point is to avoid the “smack on the lips” and the “locking of the lips” by offering a detour.

A nonromantic kiss is used to seal a friendship.

For no contact use an air kiss, pucker and blow.

Europeans kiss on both cheeks, with a third on the forehead of a child.

~Didi

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